Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal are special – they have something Alcaraz and Sinner don’t’

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are heirs to tennis’ ‘Big Three’ but one player who has faced them all claims Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal are a level aboveMarin Cilic believes young tennis sensations Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz “are not yet” at the level of legends Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Despite Sinner and Alcaraz sweeping all four Grand Slams between them in 2024, the Croatian highlighted the two veterans’ “mentality” as the difference for the time being.Cilic is currently competing at the Belgrade Open, having beaten French player Alexander Muller 7-6, 6-2, in his opener. Ahead of that clash, the former World No. 3 was asked about the difference between the ‘Big Three’: Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer, and the younger generation of stars.

The 36-year-old has plenty of experience against the aforementioned tennis aces, having faced all five across his career. And he pinpointed a special trait that Djokovic, 37, and the recently-retired Nadal, 38, possess, stating they are ruthless from the start of matches until the very end and therefore punish opponents who are not “mentally ready”.Cilic told Tennis Majors: “I haven’t played with Sinner lately, since the ‘big three’… Novak and Rafa are similar mentally. If you’re not with them from the first ball of the match, you can immediately go home and say goodbye to everyone.You have to be mentally ready to play from the first shot because once they get into the rhythm, there’s no going back. With Roger, on the other hand, it was very different.

“When I compare them with the young generation, Alcaraz and Sinner have a fantastic level, but they are not yet at that level of mental preparation. The Big Three were at top level from the first to the last second in big tournaments, that’s why they dominated tennis for so long.”